Buy Local

The Organic Box Scheme for Vegetables

A weekly supply of in-season organic vegetables delivered to your neighbourhood for a set price:-

Small 5-7 items £7

Medium 6-8 items £9.25

Large 10+items £13

We choose what goes into the bags, according to the season and availability. We use bags rather than boxes because it is cheaper and easier for people to carry. It will vary depending on the season, a typical medium bag in the summer will contain:-

The greatest variety of vegetables is between July and November, and the bags will vary greatly from week to week.

A typical medium bag in the winter will contain:-

Our policy on pricing is that your organic vegetables will cost no more than non-organic in a supermarket. (organic vegetables in supermarkets are almost twice the price if available.) We do not believe that organic produce should be an elitist niche-market product, but should be an option to anyone that chooses.

We guarantee the value and freshness. You cannot buy fresher produce as it comes direct from our 17 acre farm on an organic estate near the Thames at Pangbourne.

We have held the Soil Association Symbol of Organic Quality for almost 25 years. We are one of the longest established organic vegetable farms in the country. Our production system and accounts are monitored annually to ensure that we adhere to their high standards.

Every year we hold an open day to which you will be invited to attend. You will be able to see for yourself the vegetables growing in the field and walled garden.

The box-scheme enables us to maintain realistic prices. We have no middle-man to pay, very little packaging and sell locally, which reduces food-miles to almost zero. This is good for you, the customer, us the producer and above all the health of the planet.

Since the BSE crisis, we have been moving towards operating a completely animal free system. We do not bring any animal manures on to the farm, relying instead on a comprehensive system of green manure to maintain fertility. This is working very well and we have visitors from many overseas countries interested in this system.

It is simple. Provided that you live within our delivery area (central and east Reading and Oxford area) and if the local group has a space available, you join by paying for one week's vegetables in advance. So for a medium bag, you initially have to pay 2 x £7 when you collect your first bag. If you forget to collect your bag, you will forfeit your money, and will have to pay again in advance for the next bag. This avoids wastage and inconvenience to your rep. and helps to keep, prices down. Payment is by cash only. If a place is not available in your area, you will be put on a waiting list and we will contact you as soon as there is a vacancy.

You do not have to keep to the same size bag or order each week.  Just place an order for the next week with your rep. when you collect on Wednesdays, or tell them if you are away. Please return your empty bag if it is re-usable

Unfortunately no - if we were to pack to individual requirements it would double the cost. Many of our customers have told us how they enjoy the element of surprise and that they avoid having to make decisions about choice and that it has encouraged them to become more adventurous and creative with their cooking. Most of the winter vegetables will keep a long time if kept cool and dark.

People will sometimes swap items with each other in groups, depending on personal preferences. Over the course of the year, there will be over 50 different vegetables in your bag. Some items you may not have seen before, so we try to include occasional recipes.

There is an extras list from which you may wish to order additional items. To keep you in touch with what happens on the farm, we publish an occasional newsletter - The Onion Oracle.

For further information telephone:

• Wallingford area - Karen and Tom Butterworth 01491 837835
• Reading and Berkshire area - Lin 0118 984 1304
• Crowmarsh - Gillian 01491 823720
• Dorchester - Melanie 01235 767014
• Oxfordshire - Doug 01865 556 151